NBA power rankings: Week 3

As has become par for the course, the Western Conference has been steamrolling through the East, posting a 27-16 (62.8 percent) record against its opposing conference in interconference games. At the top of the heap are the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies, one of which, is constructed to carry the league's highest prize, and the other, constructed in a way that might keep the first from doing just that.

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NBA Power Rankings: Week 3

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NBA power rankings: Week 3

27. Denver Nuggets

If only the Nuggets could hold teams to 59 points over the course of 48 minutes instead of 24.

(Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

22. Orlando Magic

Being the East’s version of the Jazz speaks to their respective 4-7 start.

(Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

20. Charlotte Hornets

Lance Stephenson was supposed to raise Charlotte’s offense to a respectable place. At 98.1, their Offensive Rating is ranked 26th which is far closer to deplorable than respectable.

(Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

16. Phoenix Suns

Despite a three-guard lineup, the Suns are almost exactly where they were last year: on the precipice of missing the playoffs.

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

14. New Orleans Pelicans

What does the NBA rulebook say about just naming a team after their rising star? Though, the New Orleans Anthony Davises sounds somehow worse than the Pellies do now.

(Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

13. Miami Heat

As expected, the Heat become middle-of-the-road without Wade, and with a struggling Bosh.

(Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

12. Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron’s superteam is finally playing, somewhat, like a superteam.

(David Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

10. Los Angeles Clippers

Look, everyone! The Clippers are underachieving yet again!

(Andrew Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

9. Sacramento Kings

A tough win against San Antonio verified that the Kings are the real deal. Question is: are this year’s San Antonio Spurs still a litmus test for assessing NBA realness?

(Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/MCT)

8. Portland Trailblazers

A four-game win streak has Portland looking like it did last year. Problem is: the Western Conference is looking like it has for the past ten years.

(Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

3. Houston Rockets

Blessed with the league’s easiest schedule so far, the Rockets can’t climb much higher for the time being. But, at least it feels good to know that losing out onChris Bosh and Chandler Parsons might have been a blessing in disguise.

(Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

2. Memphis Grizzlies

With Courtney Lee‘s heroics, the Grizzlies might be outdoing even our own tempered expectations.